Knotter



April 14,1925.

' 1,533,607 B A. PETERSQN KNOTTER (h'igina` Filed `Api1 l, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 q "u www" uw fwn? B. A. PETERSON xNoTTER pagina Filed April 1, 1920 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

yUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT A. PETERSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

BARBER-COLMAN COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLI- NOIS (1922).

KNOTTER.

Application led April 1, 1920, Serial No. 370,394. Renewed April 2, 1924.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BURT A. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the countyof Winnebago and o State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knotters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to knot-tying implements of the type employed in textile 1 mills for uniting the ends of thread or yarn; and the object. of the invention is to provide a knetter of a practical character, constructed almost wholly of sheet metal, so that it may be cheaply manufactured, if but made sutliciently rugged to withstand the hard usage to which such devices are subjected.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is ind" tended te be illustrative only, it not being intended that the invention shall be limited in the interpretation of the appended claims to the particular construction and arrangement hereinafter fully described eX- cept as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of my improved knetter, the strap, by means of which the device is secured to the hand of the operator, being omitted. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the knetter. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig.'2. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively perspective views of a driving and driven yoke for actuating` parts of the tying mechanism. In the drawings, for the sake of clearness the invention is illustrated on a scale approximately twice its actual size.

The knetter comprises, generally, a relatively stationary annular casing 8 having rotatably mounted diametrically thereof a stem or spindle 9, said spindle carrying at l one end a tying-bill 10 and having rigid therewith a pinion 1l. Mounted te swing coaxially of the annular casing 8 are two yokes 12 and 13. The yoke 12 is arranged te be swung manually in one direction by moans of an operating lever 14 and the yoke 13 is mounted te' be swung in a direction opposite to that of the yoke 12 through the rotation of the pinion 11 effected by the swinging of the yoke 12. Operatively associated with the yoke 13 so as to be swingable vsaid slot is provided with gear teeth 27 therewith is a clamping stripper 15 which together with a guide member 16 is adapted to hold the threads or yarn to be united by rotation of the tying-bill 10. The clamping stripper is adapted to be actuated in the operation of the knetter so as to clamp the threads therein by means of a stationary cam member 17 operatively associated with the clamping stripper 15. For actuating the yoke 12 and associated parts in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by the operating lever 14, I provide a coiled spring 18.

The annular casing 8 may be of any suitable or preferred construction. Herein it comprises a main cup-shaped portion 8a and a cap portion 8b detachably secured to the main portion as by means of a bowed spring member 8c formed of wire and having opposite ends 8d bent. outwardly so as to project through registering openings in the two overlapping portions of the casing. In one side of the casing is provided an opening surrounded by an outwardly eX- tending flange 19 forming a bearing for the lower end of the spindle 9, and diametrically opposite said opening is an opening 20 through which extends the tying-bill 10. 0n the inner side of the casing adjacent the opening 20 is fixed a bearing bracket 21 through which the spindle 9 projects.

The tying-bill maybe of any usual or preferred construction being herein of the type disclosed in Patent No. 7 55,110, dated March 22, 1904, the bracket 21 in the casing being constructed to provide a cam barrel arranged to actuate the clamping and shearing mechanism of the bill, in a well known manner.

Mounted coi-axially of the casing 8 in the opposite walls thereof are a rotatable stem 22 and a fixed stud 23, respectively. On said stem and stud 23 is mounted the driving yoke 12, which is preferably formed of sheet metal. One ef the arms of the yoke is rigid with an annular flange 24 formed on the pivotally-mounted stem 22, being preferably welded thereto, and the other arm of the yoke is rotatably mounted upon a journal 25 provided by the stud 23. Connecting the arms of the yoke 12 is a curved or arcuate plate or member 12a which is out away throughout the greater portion of its length to provide a slot 26. @ne edge of sin thus forming a gear segment which is adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 11. As herein shown the pinion 11 may be formed integrally with the spindle 9.

The`yoke13 is similar to the yoke 12 in shape but of a size to permit of its entrance within the yoke 12. Une arm of this yoke 13 is rotatably mounted upon a journal provided by the head 28 of a screw 29 entered within the stem 22 from the inner end thereof; while the other arm of the yoke 13 is mounted upon a journal 30 pro-y vided by the stud 23 inwardly of the journal 25 of said stud. Said journal 30 of the stud ispreferably extended inwardly a short distance so as to project into a groove 91fformed in the spindle. The stud thus serves to hold the spindle against longitudinal movement when the cap 8b of the casing is in position. Around the openings in the arms of the yokes12 and 13 which are mounted upon the stud 23 I preferably provide annular ianges 31 and 32 extend? ing in Lopposite directions to provide journal bearings for the arms. Preferably also the stud -f23has a collar 33 against which the end 'of the flange 31 of the yoke 12 is arranged to bear'so that the gear segment 27 of said yoke may bev-maintained in-inesl1ing engagement with the pinion 11.- Like the yoke 12 the yoke 13 has an arcuate: portion 13- which is cutto provide a slot 34, and one edge of this slot is providedwith gear teeth 35 to form a gear segment adapted to mesh with the pinion 11 on the side opposite that yengaged by the segment 27 of the yoke 12.`

The operating lever 14 is fixed upon the stem-22 so that by means of the thumb of the hand of the operator which carries the knotter', thev stem may be rotated. F or this purpose, the stem 22 extends outwardly ibeyond the -side wall of vthe casing 8, being reducedfin diameter te provide a shoulder 36 against which -the inner end oft-he op erating lever lis clamped bymeans of a clamping screw 37 entered into the stem 22 from theouerv end thereof.- Itwillbe seen that the stem 22 and the screws 29V and 37 carried-therebyntogether constitute a rotatable element adaptedy to be turned by operation `of the lever 14.

Between vthe lever. 14 and the adjacent wallof the casing S is a plate 38. Said plateis' suitably apertured to receive .the stem and is fined to the casing in any suitableway.l Said plate has at its lower end a strap carrying member 39 'of usual construction and at its upper end has'a portion 4G projecting upwardly beyond the periphery of the casing so as to provide a thread .guide arranged to cooperate with the clamping stripper 15 and the guide 1G.

at `the opposite side of the. casing.

The clamping stripperl is mounted toswing upon. the stem 22 ,and..has,fa rigid connection with the yoke 13. Suchjconnecwill be.understood,` isparranged to project:

fro a the casingasubstantial distance, the latter being provided with an arcuate slot 43 (Fig. 4l for receiving ithe stripper..

Said slot it .willqbe apparent is: arrangedto be closed by the yflange-42 which isi' made of 'a length suflicientA to lclose thefslot--irre-I- spective-of the positionof :the yoke 132m` the casing. In order to permit kof the rela y tive movement between the flange 42 swing able in` one direction'with-the yoke 13, .and i the yoke-12 ymovable in the opposite direction,- the plate. 41. is slottednear itsperiphery-as at 44 and 44a l(Fig-V3) so as toreceive the opposite ends of the arcuate Aportion 12a of the yoke 12.`

Said stripper may comprisetwo elongated members or iplates 45 and.,46fand an inter-- mediate member 475k The, members 45and 4G at their lower ends are mounted forrotation upon ajournal `48: provided-by the stem 22, are shaped to providev stationary jaws 49 with which a clamping jaw 50 provided by the upperend of the intermediate member 47 is arrange-d tocoact in the. operationfof the knotter. Preferably the plates-45 and 46 are formed from an. integralnpiece of sheet metal. being connected at their `.rear

and the upper ends of said members edges by a web portion 46% shown in.;sec-,-

tionfinFig. 4. In its lower port-ion the intermediate member 47 is provided with.

an elongated vopening 5l (Figz4) for .receiving the stem 22y and at its lower end said membercarries a roller stud 52. This stud is arrangedto lie within a cam groeve 53 4)y providedin the cam/ member 1T which 1s fixed to the adjacent fall of the casing., By reference to F 1g..4 Ait will be seen that the cam groove is soshaped thatV at eachend ot the yswinging movement ot. the stripper the movablejaw is ininopei'au tive or releasing,v` osit-ion but that durinv' d, 5 b

a substantial portion of such, swinging vsecured to the casing 8, in any suitable manner, being apertured at its center to receive the stud 23. Preferably the plates 16 and 38 on opposite sides et the casing are shaped to provide rounded forward edges 16a and 38a (Fig. 1) upon which the threads may ride so as te facilitate the positioning thereetl for the tying operation.

rlhe spring 18 for returning the parts to initial position after movement by the eperating lever 14 may be in the term et a flat coil one end et which is liXed as at 55 (Fig. 2) te the head 28 et the screw 29 inserted into the inner end et the stem 22. The opposite end of said coil is preferably connected with the driven yoke 13 as at 56 (Fig. 3).

The operation oit the knetter will, it is believed be readily understood trom the teregoing description. By way et summary, however, the operation is briefly as follows:

lVith the parts in the position shown in the drawings, the two strands el' thread er yarn to be united are passed over the guide L10, through the clamping stripper 15 and into operative relation with the tying-bill 10 in a well known manner, and thence through the hooked guide 54e et the member 16. Thereupon an operation et the lever 111 swings the driving yoke 12 in one direction, rotating the spindle 9 and swinging the driven yoke 13 in a direction opposite to that of the yoke 12. The size et the yoke 13 is so proportioned as te impart to the clamping stripper 15 a stroke et the desired length. With the spindle 9 the tying-bill 1() rotates to term the loops of the knot, clamp the threads, and sever the ends thereet, and the clamping stripper 15 in its swinging movement operates te clamp the threads and as it continues to swing, strip the loops from eil' the tying-bill while the ends remain clamped thereby. As the st-rip per nears the end et its stroke, the knot becomes tightened, and finally the ends et the thread are withdrawn by the stripper from the tying-bill. After the knot has thus been termed, the clamping stripper is operated by the cam member 17 to release the thread ends held thereby.

It will be observed that I have provided a knetter et' advantageous construction. The arrangement et the mechanism is very compact, and by reason et' the tact that the device is made almostwholly Jfrom sheet metal, it may be manufactured at a very low cost. Moreover, the construction is et suoli a rugged character that the knetter is capable of withstanding long and hard usage.

l claim as my invention:

1. A knetter comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a spindle jeurnaled therein, a tying bill at one end of the spindie, thread-guiding means on the supporting structure, a rotatable stem journaled in the supporting structure, a driving member lixed te said stem and having an operative connection with said spindle te rotate it, a meinber relative to which said stem is adapted to rotate and having a gearing connection with the spindle, and a device connected with the last mentioned member whereby a rotation et said spindle effects a relative swinging movement between the tying bill and said device to strip the looped thread from the tying bill.

2. A knetter comprising, in combination, stationary annular casing, a spindle ex tending diametrically of the casing and having a tying bill at one end projecting through one wall of the easing, thread guiding means carried by the casing, a rotatable stem journaled in the casing, a driving member liXed to said stem and having an operative connection with said spindle to rotate it, a member relative te which said stem is adapted to rotate and having a gearing connection with the spindle, and a device connected with the last mentioned meinber whereby a rotation et said spindle et'- t'ects a relative swinging movement between the tying bill and said device to strip the looped thread from the tying bill.

3. i knetter comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a spindle jeurnaled therein, a tying bill rotatable with said spindle, a clamping stripper mounted tor swinging movement relative to the supporting structure and the tying bill, a pair ol" yokes having a common aXis in said supporting structure and each having a gearing connection with said spindle, means for actuating one et said yekes te drive the spindie and thereby the other yoke, and means connecting the last mentioned yoke with the clamping stripper.

d. A knetter comprising, in combination, a stationary easing having` a tying bill prejecting from one wall thereof, thread guiding means rigid relative te the casing and positioned laterally et the tying bill, a clamping stripper swingable relative te the casing and said tying bill, actuating mechanism enclosed within the easing comprising a rotatable element journaled in the casing, and means operatively associated with said element tor rotating the tying bill and swinging said stripper, said stripper being rotatably mounted on said element and there being a slot in the casing through which the stripper extends.

5. A knetter comprising, in combination, a casing, a spindle mounted for rotation in the casing and having a tying bill at one end projecting from one wall et the casing, a clamping stripper mounted for swinging movement relative to the casing and said tying bill comprising relatively iiXed and movable members, and means Within the Casing'tor rotating said tying bill and actu ating the clamping stripper including a rotatable eienient, a pinion on said spindle, a driving member rigid with said element and. having a gearing; connection with the pinion, a driven membe also having a gear ing connection with said pinion and being rigid with said clamping stripper, and mechanism actuated in the rota-tion ot said eiement for actuating the movable member oit' the clamping stripper.

6. A lniotter comprising, in. combination, au annular casing, a spindle journaled in the casing and extending diametrically thereof, a tying bill rotatable with said spindie,'a clamping stripp r mounted for swinging movement reiative to the casing` and kthe tyi bill, a pair ot intertitting yokes mount coavially ot' the casing and each having` a gearing connection with said spindie, means toi' actuating one of said yolesqto drive the spindle and thereby the other yoke, and ineens connecting the last mentioned yolce with the clamping stripper.

LA knetter comprising, in con'ibination, a casing, a spindle journaled in the casing and having a tying bili at one end thereof, a pair ot yokes coaxiaily mounted relative to each other in the casing and each having a gearing' connection ivith said spindle, an element rotatable with one of said yoltes, a clamping stripper sivingable with the other one of said yolcs` an operating lever for rotating said element in one direction, and spring means for rotating the element in the opposite direction.

8. A knetter comprising, in combination, a casing, a spindle journaled in the casing, a tying bill rotatable with said spindle, a pair ot actuating yoltes each having a gearing connection With the spindle, a rotatable element with Which one of said yoles is rigid, a sivingable element with 'which the other one ot said yolres is rigid, and means for actuating said rotatable element whereby to rotate said spindle and siving the sivingable element.

9. A knetter con'iprising, in combination, a casing, a tying bill, a paii ot actuating yokes one of which is operatively associated with the tying bill to rotate it, a clamping stripper ope atively associated with the other one ot sai-d yoites so as to be swung thereby relative to. the casing and said tying bill, said yolies being operatively associated so that movement imparted to one of them in one direction ivill swing the other one ot' them in the opposite direction, and means for swinging one ot said yolies.

l0. ifi knetter comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a tying bill, a pair ot actuating yoles one ot' which is operatively associated with the tying bill to rotate it, a clamping stripper operatively associated With the other one of said yokes so as to be swung thereby relative to the structure and said tying` bill, said yokes being operatively associated so that move ment imparted to one of them in one direction will swing the other one of them in the opposite direction, and a thumb lever attacliedto one ot said yolies.

ll. knetter comprising, in combination, a casing, a spindle mounted in said casing, a tying element rotatable with the spindle, a stripping element, and means toi' effect-r ing relative swinging movement bet'iveen the tying element and the stripping element omprisinga rotatable member journaled in the casing', an actuating member tixed ivith reference to said rotatable member and operatively connected with the rotary tying element, and a serond actuating member operatively associated with the first inentioned actuating member and With the stripping element.

l2. lrnotter comprising, in combination, a ci sing, a spindle journaled in the casing having a rotary tying element at one end, a stripping element, and means for effecting a relative swinging movement between the tying element and the stripping element comprising a rotatable element, a

supporting pair ot intei'litting yokes each having a gearing connection with said spindle, one ot said yolies being rigid with said rotatable element and the other one of said yolres being rigid with-said stripping element, an operating lever toi' rotating said rotatable element in one direction` and spring means 'for rotating the element in the opposite direction. Y i3. i knetter comprising, in coml'iination, a casing, a spindle journaled in the casing having a rotary tying element at one end, a stripping element, and means for eti'ecing a relative swinging movement between the tying element and the stripping element comprising a rotatable element, a pair ot interlitting yoies each having a gearing connection with said spindle, one ot' said yolies being' rigid with said rotatable element and the other one ot said yoles being rigid with said stripping element, an operating lever tor rotating said rotatable element in one direction, spring means tor rotating the element in the opposite direction, said stripping element comprising two relatively movable members, and cam means operable in the rotation of said rotatable element 'toi' actuating the movable member ot the stripping elementjh A knetter comprising, in combination, an annular casing, a spindle ournaled in the casing diametrically thereof, a bearing stud and an operating stem mounted coaxially ot the casing at oppositevsides ot said spindle, a pair of, actuating members intertitting and mounted on said stud and stem, said spindle having a pinion rigid therewith and said actuating members each having gear teeth meshing with said pinion, one et said yokes being rigid with said stem, a clamping` stripper rotatably mounted on said stem and iixed with reference to the other one et said yolres, and means tor rotating eaid stem.

l5. A knetter connprising, in combination, an annular casing, a` spindle journaled in the casing and having a tying bill projecting from ite peripheral wall. a clamping stripper mounted within the casing so te swing relative thereto, there being a slot in the casing through which the clamping stripper extends, and means tor rotating said spindle and swinging the clamping stripper comprising a pair oit relatively swingable intertitting actuating yokes, a plate rigid with the inner one ot' said yokes and having an arcuate flange through which the clamping stripper extends, said 'flange being located adjacent the inner peripheral suriiace of the casing and adapted to form a closure for said slot, the outer one ot said yokes being provided with a slot to receive said flange whereby te permit a relative movement therebetween.

16. A knetter comprising, in combination, a supporting structure, a spindle journaled therein, a bearing stud and an operating stem mounted in said structure in alinement with each other and at opposite sides of said spindle, a pair of actuating members mounted on said stud and stem, said spindle having a pinion rigid therewith and said actuating members each having gear teeth meshing with said pinion, one et' said ac tuating members being rigid with said stem, a clamping stripper rotatably mounted on said stem and :fixed with reference te the other one of said actuating members7 and means for rotating said stem.

17. A knetter comprising, in combination, an annular stationary casing, a spindle journaled in the easing diametrieally thereof, a rotary tying element projecting from the peripheral wallet the casing, a stripping element, and means for effecting relative swinging movement between said tying and stripping elements comprising a rotatable member and an actuating yoke fixed with reference to said member and having an eperative connection with one of said elements te swing it.

18. A knetter comprising, in combination,

an annular stationary casing, a spindle journaled in the casing diametrically thereof, a rotary tying element projecting trom the peripheral wall oit the casing, a stripping element, means tor eiifecting relative swinging movement between said tying and stripping elements comprising a rotatable member and an actuating yoke fixed with reference to said member and having an operative connection with one of said elements to swing it, said clamping stripper comprising a movable member, and cam means operable in the rotation et the rotatable member to move said movable member.

19. A knetter comprising, in combination, a stationary casing having a spindle therein, a rotary tying bill carried by the spindle and projecting from one wall et the casing, an arcuate member having a gearing connection with said spindle, and means for effecting relative swinging movement between the spindle and said arcuate member including a rotatable element and a rigid connection between said rotatable element and one ot' said relatively moving parts.

20. A knetter comprising, in combination, a stationary casing, a rotary tying bill projecting from one wall of the casing, an arcuate member having a gearing connection with said tying bill, means for effecting relative swinging movement between the tying bill and said arcuate member includ-- ing a rotatable element jeurnaled in the casing, a member rigidly connecting said rotatable element and one of said relatively mov ing parts, and a clamping stripper operatively associated with the arcuate member so as to have a relative swinging movement with reference te the tying bill.

21. A knetter et the type comprising a rotary tying bill and a stripper, wherein the stripper has a gearing connection with the tying bill so that the rotation of the tying bill operates to swing the stripper.

22. A knetter comprising, in combination, a tying bill and a thread clamping device mounted for relative swinging movement, said device having a gearing connection with the tying bill whereby rotation of the tying bill operates to effect such relative swinging movement between the parts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

BURT A. JETERSON, 

